Description of Local Enviroment
Air Quality
The scheme is predominantly surrounded by agricultural fields and dense vegetation. There are two residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents, with the closest being approximately 20m south from the A75. There are no other sensitive air quality receptors within 200m.
Dumfries and Galloway council have not declared any Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
Baseline air quality is influenced by vehicle traffic along the A75. The closest manual count point (10740) approx. 4km west shows that the Annual Average Daily Flow of Traffic (AADF) in 2023 for all motor vehicles along the A75 is 15747 with 1700 of those being heavy good vehicles (HGVs).
No sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) have been identified within 1km of the scheme.
Cultural Heritage
A desk-based assessment was undertaken using Pastmap. A study area of 300m was used for designated cultural heritage assets and an area of 200m was used for non-designated cultural heritage assets. See Table 1 and Table 2 below for full details.
Table 1: Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 300m
|
Name |
Reference Number |
Description |
Distance from Scheme |
|
Drummore Farmhouse, Retaining Wall and Gatepiers |
Ref: LB9714 |
Listed Building (Category B) |
Located approx. 25m south. |
Table 2: Non-Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 200m
|
Name |
Reference Number |
Description |
Distance from Scheme |
|
Drummore Farmhouse |
Ref: 214838 |
Canmore |
Located approx. 25m south |
All works will be undertaken within the carriageway boundary and there is no connectivity between the features and the scheme as the works consist of resurfacing, therefore no impacts are anticipated on cultural heritage.
Landscape and Visual Effects
The scheme is located in a rural area, with the surrounding landscape primarily consisting of agricultural fields and dense vegetation including trees and shrubs.
According to Scotland’s Environmental Web, there are no Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) or ancient woodlands located within 500m of the scheme extents. The scheme is not situated within a National Park (NP), National Scenic Area (NSA) or within a Garden & Designed Landscape.
The Historic Landscape Assessment (HLA) Map indicates that the scheme lies within land previously classified as Rectilinear Fields and Farms.
The Scottish Landscape Character Type (LCT) Assessment Map shows that the scheme is located in land classified as Drumlin Pastures. This Landscape Character Type is located in low lying areas of the Machars, and Castle Douglas areas of Dumfries and Galloway. Drumlin pastures are particularly distinctive landforms created by glacial deposition.
The views from the road are primarily of the surrounding agricultural fields that border the carriageway; however, some residential properties may have a view of the scheme where there is no vegetation screening. Views of, and from the road will be temporarily affected during construction due to the presence of works, traffic management and plant.
Biodiversity
Sitelink does not highlight any European designated sites located within 2km of the scheme extents. Sitelink has not identified the presence of national designations (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Local Nature Reserves) within 1km of the scheme extents.
A search of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool has highlighted the following target species along the verge of the carriageway, these include Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) and Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).
The scheme and the surrounding habitat have been reviewed by a senior ecologist using desktop resources. Based on this review and the nature of the works, which will be confined to the existing carriageway boundary, the need for a field survey has been scoped out.
Geology and Soils
SiteLink indicates there are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS) within 2km of the scheme extents. There are also no geological SSSI’s located within 200m of the works.
The British Geology Viewer notes the geology of the soil within the scheme extents consists of the following:
Superficial deposits
- Till, Devensian - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
- Alluvium - Silt, sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 11.8 thousand years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.
Bedrock geology
- Carghidown Formation - Wacke. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 443.8 and 433.4 million years ago during the Silurian period.
Scotland’s Soils Map notes that the soils located within the scheme extents comprise of brown earth.
As the works will be restricted to the existing carriageway boundary and previously engineered layers, it has been determined that the project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to geology or soils. As such, no significant impacts are anticipated, and geology and soils has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.
Material Assets and Waste
Table 3: Key materials required for activities.
|
Activity |
Material Required |
Origin/ Content |
|
Site Construction |
· Bituminous surfacing materials (TS2010 binder/base); · Vehicle fuel; · Road marking materials and studs; · Oil; and · Lubricant. |
· TS2010 Surface Course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical stone mastic asphalt (SMA). As a result, the use of TS2010 will reduce the usage of imported aggregates and increase the use of a wider range of sustainable aggregate source. · A proportion of RAP is used in asphalt production. Typical RAP values for base and binder are 10% - 15% with up to 10% in surface course. · All of the materials listed will contain a % of recycled material. |
Table 4: Key wastes arising from activities.
|
Activity |
Waste Arising |
Disposal/ Regulation |
|
Site Construction |
• Asphalt planings |
Uncontaminated road planings generated as a result of the works, will be fully recycled in accordance with the criteria stipulated within the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) document ‘Guidance on the Production of Fully Recoverable Asphalt Road Planings’. Following on-site coring investigations and testing, no coal-tar was identified within the surfacing of the carriageway within the scheme extent. The Contractor is responsible for the disposal of road planings and this has been registered in accordance with a Paragraph 13(a) waste exemption issued by SEPA, as described in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011. Due to the general size, nature and value of the scheme, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) will be required for the scheme. |
Noise and Vibration
The scheme is predominantly surrounded by agricultural fields and dense vegetation. There are five residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, with the closest being approximately 20m south from the A75. There are no other noise sensitive receptors within 300m.
Baseline noise is influenced by vehicle traffic along the A75. The closest manual count point (10740) approx. 4km west shows that the AADF in 2023 for all motor vehicles along the A75 is 15747 with 1700 of those being HGVs. Scotland Noise Map notes that the noise within the scheme extents ranges from 70dB – 60dB LDAY during daytime hours and 66dB – 58dB LNGT during nighttime hours.
According to Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2019-2023 the scheme extents are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA).
Population and Human Health
A study area of 300m has been used in this assessment as works are unlikely to impact receptors beyond 300m.
There are five residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, with the closest being approximately 20m south from the A75. There are no community facilities or assets within 300m.The closest community facilities are located in Dumfries which is located approx. 6km east from the start of the scheme. There are two residential properties that uses the A75 as their only access point, therefore, local access will be granted.
According to Core Path Scotland, there are no core paths located within 300m of the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no National cycle Routes or Bridleways within 300 of the works. There are two bus stops located along the A75 within the scheme extents that run services to and from Castle Douglas, Stranraer and wider towns within Dumfries and Galloway.
The A75 carriageway within the proposed scheme extents is not street-lit, contains no pedestrian footways. However, several laybys located along the scheme extents.
Other land uses within 300m include agricultural fields used for agricultural purposed, located adjacent to the A75 carriageway. There are field access points along the stretch of the scheme that could potentially be used for farming activities.
Road Drainage and the Water Environment
According to Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)’s water classification hub there are two watercourses located within 500m of the works, these include:
- Lochfoot Burn (ID:10601) located approx. 60m south from the start of the scheme with a moderate ecological potential.
- Cargen Pow/Bogrie Lane (ID:10600) located approx. 200m northeast from the start of the scheme, also with a moderate ecological potential.
SEPA Flood Maps has not highlighted any river or surface water flooding within the scheme extents.
The groundwater within the scheme extents is Cargenbank groundwater (ID: 150542) which has a ‘good’ overall ecological potential. This is not listed as drinking water protected area. The scheme is not located within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone.
Drainage along the A75 within the scheme extents consist of filter stones which runs along wither side of the carriageway.
Climate
Carbon Goals
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change (The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009). The Act includes a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990). The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 amended the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to bring the target of reaching net-zero emissions in Scotland forward to 2045 (Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019).
The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC) to set out how it will reach net-zero emissions by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030 (Scotland's contribution to the Paris Agreement: indicative Nationally Determined Contribution - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)). By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reducing emissions by 90%, with the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at the latest.
Transport Scotland is committed to reducing carbon across Scotland’s transport network and this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport (Mission Zero for transport | Transport Scotland). Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland. In response to the climate emergency, Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.
Monitoring, Management and Opportunities
To support our journey towards carbon neutral and zero waste we include potential opportunities for enhancement utilising circular economy principals within assessment of material assets.
Amey (working on behalf of Transport Scotland) undertake carbon monitoring. Emissions from our activities are recorded using Transport Scotland’s Carbon Management System.
Further information identifying how Amey will obtain the above Carbon Goals can be viewed within the Carbon Management and Sustainability Plan Roadmap to net-zero: STRNMC – South West.
Policies and Plans
This Record of Determination (RoD) has been undertaken in accordance with Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (RSA EIA Regulations) along with Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance – Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects (transport.gov.scot)). Relevant guidance, policies and plans accompanied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) LA 101 and LA 104 were used to form this assessment.